NeurochainAI No-Code Workshop: Building a Finance AI Bot (Day 1)
Introduction
This workshop is part of the NeurochainAI No-Code series. In this edition, the focus is on building a finance assistant bot on Telegram using NeurochainAI IaaS, N8N, and Supabase. The bot will allow users to track expenses easily and receive financial insights through AI automation.
The workshop is structured as follows:
- Day 1: Introduction to the project, bot demonstration, and environment setup
- Day 2: Building the automation with N8N, integrating with NeurochainAI IaaS and Supabase
- Day 3: Refining the bot and making final adjustments
By the end of the workshop, the bot will be able to categorize expenses, store transaction data, and provide financial insights, all without requiring manual commands.
What Does the Finance Assistant Bot Do?
The bot allows users to record their expenses effortlessly. Instead of using spreadsheets or specific commands, users simply type:
- "Spent 50 on coffee."
- "Paid 1200 for rent."
- "Bought groceries for 300."
The AI categorizes the expense, requests confirmation, and then saves the data. The bot also provides useful features:
- /balance – Displays the total balance
- /list – Shows the last five recorded expenses
- /categories – Provides an expense breakdown by category
This system is powered by NeurochainAI IaaS, ensuring fast, and intelligent processing of financial data.
Day 1: Setting Up the Environment
Before building the bot, the necessary tools must be set up.
1. Testing the Bot
To better understand how the bot works, a live demonstration is available. The following link provides access to the bot for testing its core features.
Finance Assistant Bot
2. Configuring the Required Tools
The bot will be built using:
- N8N – Automation platform for managing workflows
- Telegram Bot API – Interface for user interactions
- Supabase – Database for storing expense records
The following sections provide step-by-step instructions for configuring each tool.
2.1 Setting Up N8N
N8N will handle the automation process. There are two ways to set it up:
Option 1: Using N8N Cloud (Simplest Method)
- Go to N8N Cloud and create an account.
- On the dashboard, click "Create Workflow."
- The workflow will be configured in Day 2.
Option 2: Installing N8N on a VPS
For those who prefer self-hosting, a detailed installation guide is available:
2.2 Creating a Telegram Bot
To connect the finance assistant to Telegram, an API Key must be generated.
How to Obtain a Telegram API Key
- Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
- Start a conversation and type: /newbot
Follow the instructions to:
- Choose a bot name
- Set a unique username (must end in "bot", e.g., FinanceTrackerBot)
Once completed, BotFather will generate an API Key. Copy and save this key, as it will be required later.
2.3 Setting Up Supabase
Supabase will be used to store financial data.
How to Create a Supabase Database
- Go to Supabase and sign up.
- On the main dashboard, click "New Project."
- Enter the following details:
- Project Name: FinanceBotDB
- Region: Select the closest option to your location
- Database Password: Set a strong password
Once the project is created, it will be ready for integration in the next stage.
The database structure and connection details will be configured during Day 2, when we set up automation with N8N.
Summary of Day 1
Today's tasks included:
- Testing the bot demonstration.
- Setting up the necessary tools:
- Creating an N8N account (Cloud or VPS).
- Generating a Telegram API Key using BotFather.
- Creating a Supabase database for storing expenses.
Next Steps: Day 2
The next step is to connect all components and build the automation, including:
- Configuring N8N workflows
- Integrating Telegram with NeurochainAI IaaS
- Connecting Supabase for expense tracking
At the end of Day 2, the bot will be fully functional and capable of handling financial transactions automatically.